arnoldii

Rafflesia arnoldii is a parasitic flowering plant in the family Rafflesiaceae, native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is renowned for producing the largest single flower in the world, with diameters reaching up to about 1 meter. The plant is a holoparasite and lacks chlorophyll, obtaining water and nutrients from its host vine, commonly a Tetrastigma species in the Vitaceae family.

The visible bloom emerges as a thick, fleshy floral structure from the host tissue. The exterior surface is reddish-brown and warty; the interior forms a central chamber surrounded by five petal-like lobes, typically dark red with white spots. Rafflesia arnoldii emits a strong odor reminiscent of rotting flesh to attract carrion flies for pollination. Individual flowers last several days.

Ecology and distribution: Endemic to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. It grows on the tissue of a host vine, typically Tetrastigma, in the forest understory. The plant spends most of its life as a subterranean parasite, with the above-ground bloom appearing irregularly and lasting only a few days.

Conservation and taxonomy: Rafflesia arnoldii belongs to genus Rafflesia, named after Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr. Joseph Arnold. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and collection pressure. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, field surveys, and public education.